Sima Rui

Sima Rui (272-3 January 323) was Emperor of Eastern Jin from 26 April 318 to 3 January 323, succeeding Sima Ye and preceding Sima Shao.

Biography
Sima Rui was born in Luoyang, Jin China in 272, the son of Sima Jin. In 290, he inherited the title Prince of Langye from his father, and, during the War of the Eight Princes, he took part in Sima Yue's campaign against Sima Ying in 304 AD. After Sima Yue had Sima Rui's uncle Sima Yao executed, Sima Rui fled to Langye, where he stayed for the rest of the war. In 307, Sima Yue made Sima Rui military commander of Yang Province, and he became known as an able administrator. In 313, after Emperor Sima Chi was executed by Han Zhao, Sima Ye was proclaimed Emperor in Chang'an, and Sima Rui was made Prime Minister. In 316, Sima Ye himself was captured, and Sima Rui initially planned a campaign to rescue him before cancelling it due to a lack of supplies. In 317, he took his advisors' advice and proclaimed himself King of Jin, naming his son Sima Shao as crown prince. In 318, after Liu Cong executed Sima Ye, Sima Rui declared himself Emperor. His reign saw the Jin dynasty's loss of its territories north of the Huai River, but Jin authority was entrenched south of the Huai and east of the Three Gorges, making Sima Rui the first emperor of the Eastern Jin. Sima Rui's realm was secure from Wu Hu attacks, but the western governor Wang Dun rebelled against Sima Rui in 322. Sima Rui was defeated and forced to grant Wang Dun additional powers in the west, while Wang Dun agreed to remain loyal to Sima Rui. Sima Rui grew distraught after his defeat and died of illness in 323.